Cta Junks Buyout Of Lawyer Contract

April 20, 1986

Chicago Transit Authority board members considered ``buying out`` the contract of the authority`s disgruntled top attorney, but discarded the idea, a CTA official disclosed Friday. John Hoellen, a CTA board member, declined to reveal details of the discussion to make a cash settlement with Joyce Hughes, CTA general attorney, but he said he opposed the idea as improper. Hughes, who is paid $62,000 a year, has two years left on her contract. She contends that her authority was slashed after a law department reorganization initiated by CTA Chairman Michael Cardilli. Hughes and Cardilli have clashed on several occasions over legal opinions that she has delivered that have been at odds with the chairman`s interests.